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Best Chicken Coops for 2022

Your chicken coop won’t only give your birds somewhere safe to sleep, eat and socialise, but getting the right one may also make your life a bit easier too.

Chickens need a familiar, safe space to roost at night. The right coop will be able to keep out any unwanted visitors, especially overnight when you can’t keep an eye on them. They’ll also be unable to wander or escape your garden.  A coop will also allow your flock to maintain their social hierarchy while roosting, minimising fighting and bullying.

The right chicken coop should be large enough for all of your chickens, which is why most will host a minimum of three chickens overnight. It should be simple for you to clean and keep maintained, too. Coops also need to be weatherproof, so need to be quality and easy to repair if needed.

A coop is also where chickens will lay their eggs, so they need an area suitable for this. Most owners will also use the coop as a feeding space, so chickens know to return there at mealtimes.

But a coop isn’t all you’re going to need – if they can’t have free-roam of your garden, a chicken run is also necessary so they have enough space to exercise. You can read about everything else you need in our beginner’s guide to keeping chickens.

Finding the best chicken coop for you depends on how many you own, how large your breed is and where it will be going in your garden. Thankfully, there are dozens out there, but some are better for both you and your birds than others. These are the top picks we found.

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    Our Top Picks

    Image Product Details
    Eglu Classic Chicken Coop
    • Removable lid for easy maintenance
    • All-in-one house and run
    Check Price
    PawHut Wooden Chicken Coop
    • Treated wood
    • Secure
    • Different look to others
    Check Price
    Eglu Cube Chicken Coop
    • Raised house
    • Separate egg box
    Check Price

    The Top Chicken Coops Reviewed

    1.
    Eglu Classic Chicken Coop

    Omlet is one of the biggest manufacturers of chicken coops, particularly for anybody who is just starting out with the hobby or perhaps who lives in more of a town setting.

    This house is in the permanent collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, which is a pretty good summary of just how good it is. It was designed more than ten years ago but still remains a bestseller. For many people, it made chicken keeping an achievable hobby, even if they didn’t live in your conventional country rural setting.

    It is a classic hen house with a small run, which will keep them safe when they can’t have free reign of the garden. The whole thing is fox-resistant, and it is easy to move around when needed.

    You can keep between two and four birds inside, and choose between a 2, 3 or 4m run.

    Features

    • Removable lid for easy maintenance
    • All-in-one house and run

    Specifications

    • Dimensions: 155 x 300 x 78cm
    • Number Of Chickens: 2-4
    • Material: Plastic

    2.
    PawHut Wooden Chicken Coop

    Great for 2-3 chickens, with an elevated house and nesting box, this is a good little home for your small flock.

    The run is completely enclosed, so while it will still need some security improvements to protect the chickens from predators, you don’t have to build anything else. The ramp allows your chickens to move upstairs when they wish, which is great in poor weather.

    Everything that needs cleaning can slide out for easy access and the doors are lockable. It’s a grey colour for something a bit different.

    Features

    • Treated wood
    • Secure
    • Different look to others

    Specifications

    • Dimensions: ‎175.4 x 95.5 x 100cm
    • Number Of Chickens: 2-3
    • Material: Wood, Mesh

    3.
    Eglu Cube Chicken Coop

    Able to house up to 10 chickens, making it one of the best for those taking the next steps from their beginner days. This plastic house is easy to clean and keeps everything simple.

    More chickens mean more eggs, so the Cube has a separate nesting box included which gives your hens some privacy. Up to three chickens at a time can lay in comfort, and it is separated by a door which can prevent chickens from going in there at night.

    With multiple roosting bars as opposed to just one or two, they will be more comfortable all together and there is no risk of injury. The gaps allow any droppings to simply fall through, into the pull-out drawer which you can empty, meaning the chickens are walking on a cleaner surface.

    Twin wall insulation will further keep them warm in winter and cooler in summer, and it is straightforward to build.

    Features

    • Raised house
    • Separate egg box

    Specifications

    • Dimensions: 155 x 220 x 117cm
    • Number Of Chickens: 10
    • Material: Plastic

    4.
    Eglu Go UP Chicken Coop

    If the thought of bending down to clean out the house and sort everything out is not appealing, the Eglu Up not only makes it easier to reach but can save you space too.

    Everything you need is included, making it ideal for a first-time hen keeper. It can house up to four chickens, and the raised living area means it takes up a bit less space for anyone needing a more compact design.

    It is available with optional wheels, so you can move it around with ease so your grass can recover. Your chickens will soon get used to using the ladders to go up and down, and they will appreciate being off the ground for a bit of warmth.

    Features

    • Higher house for easier management
    • Secure doors which work independently

    Specifications

    • Dimensions: 144 x 218 x 113cm
    • Number Of Chickens: 4
    • Material: Plastic

    5.
    Boughton Chicken Coop

    This is one for anyone who wants a traditional wooden build and offers comfort for up to six chickens.

    It is good for beginners as well as those with a few years of chicken ownership under your belt. Designed for most home kept breeds, from bantams to medium birds, it’s an easy coop to keep clean and at its best.

    The warm interior and private nest box will suit bantams very well, and there are carry handles which can make the whole thing easier to carry around the garden to a new, grassier spot. These can also be removed if not needed. Full-length side doors give you easier access to the inside of the house.

    It uses less space than other traditional arks as the sleeping area is situated on top of the run. The hinged ladder can keep your chickens in the coop overnight, and it is all fox-resistant. It’s good for up to three bantams or two of any larger breed.

    Features

    • Compact to save space
    • Living area is high up

    Specifications

    • Dimensions: 130 x 180 x 115cm
    • Number Of Chickens: 3
    • Material: Slow Growing Spruce Wood

    6.
    Eglu Go Chicken Coop

    Similar to the Go UP coop, except the coop house is on the ground for anybody who doesn’t think ladders are a good idea for their chickens.

    Available with 2, 3 or 4m run, as well as no run if you want a larger separate walk-in space, it is made from strong steel weld wire mesh so is impenetrable for predators. The tunnel skirt prevents animals from digging near to the coop, too.

    The door to allow your chickens to leave their coop can be placed either on a side of the front panel, which is ideal if you have a larger run set up connecting the two areas. The large roosting bars will keep them safe and steady, and there is a small nest area which can be filled with straw or similar and accessed at any time.

    Features

    • Available in green or purple
    • Can be converted into the Go UP at a later date with additional extras

    Specifications

    • Dimensions: 165 x 290 x 80cm
    • Number Of Chickens: 4
    • Material: Plastic

    7.
    Eggshell Buckingham 8ft Wire Chicken Coop Hen House

    This is a large hen coop for anyone with quite a few chickens, and enough space in their garden to house it.

    The ability to walk into the coop will be great for anyone with a few chickens to tend to. There are loads of locks and safety catches to prevent wandering chickens, and the nest box is spacious too.

    The coated 3mm welded wire makes it 100% fox proof and prevents attacks from other predators, but you’ll still need to secure the base. Only 1mm is used by some other brands too, so this one gives a much sturdier feel.

    Run extensions are available, in case free range isn’t possible. While it is spacious, we wouldn’t recommend more than 4 chickens. A good starter coop.

    Features

    • Large area
    • Walk-in design

    Specifications

    • Dimensions: 250 x 75 x 103cm
    • Number Of Chickens: 3-4
    • Material: Timber

    Buying Guide

    How we chose the best chicken coops

    Plastic chicken coops are really rising in popularity. They are easy to clean, with just a wipe of a damp cloth and disinfectant, and won’t face the same problems that a wooden coop would such as rot or needing protection from the rain.

    Plastic coops are also more lightweight, able to be moved around to suit, such as into more sheltered areas at night or during the winter. They’re a personal favourite here at Petz, especially for beginners, so we tried to find the best plastic chicken coops for our list. The Omlet Eglu range is incredibly popular with beginners as they’re all-in-one.

    If you do want a wooden chicken coop for a more classic, traditional look, try to pick one which is on stilts and can, therefore, be protected from the damp ground and potential damp issues. It will need treating regularly, using a chicken-safe coating. All of the wooden chicken coops we selected have reviews saying they’re easy to care for.

    One thing we can’t control is how many chickens you have, and how much space you need. However, you should have at least three chickens according to advice, so all of those above meet these minimum requirements. But with four or more, you will need to look into getting a larger coop.

    The general guideline is that you should give your chickens one-metre square per hen. Obviously, if you have a larger breed, you should increase this.

    In the UK, free-range hens have at least 4 square metres per hen outdoors, and organic have at least 10 square metres per hen outdoors. This is important if you will be selling the eggs, but also for the welfare of the chickens. It is why chicken runs are also vital.

    Many of the coops we chose come with small chicken runs, but we would always advise buying an additional large run if they can’t have free rein of your garden.

    You may wish to choose a coop which has several different living sections so your chickens have some personal space. Remember that there are a few other things you will need to put in your coop too, which could mean you need to get a coop larger than first thought.

    We also looked for chicken coops with a tray that will collect all of the waste within the chicken house. This way, it will slide out and you can just empty the dirt away, and give it a wipe before inserting again.

    People are increasingly looking for something which is portable, which gives them the option to move it to a new area in order for your chickens to have a fresh foraging area and allow your grass to recover, or if they need to be more sheltered at night. These coops will often have wheels, and we took this into consideration when choosing our top picks.

    Perhaps the main thing for most chicken owners, however, is that their coop must be fox-proof. Both urban and country areas have foxes, and chickens are a prime target for them. The wire should be strong and impenetrable and designed so a digging animal cannot burrow underneath. All of those we selected are advertised as fox-proof, but we would always recommend taking matters into your own hands and reinforcing the wire.

    Other Buyers Ask...

    What is the best chicken coop for a beginner?

    More and more people are taking up chicken keeping, especially those in towns and cities who may not have the largest of gardens. We would say to go with anything by Omlet, in their Eglu range.

    They are all-in-one setups, with the house and run included. They require minimal setup, and the fox-proof wiring will give you peace of mind without too much hassle.

    What else do I need in the chicken coop?

    Chicken coops also need some equipment inside, which could affect how large it needs to be.

    We have compiled a little guide on other things they will need, such as egg boxes and perches.

    Where do I put a chicken coop?

    The size of your garden could influence your chicken coop size. If you are yet to buy your chickens, think about the largest possible size of coop you could have in your garden and then limit your chickens to how many can comfortably fit inside.

    All chicken coops should ideally be in daylight too. Light is one of the main factors which influence good hygiene, so it will be able to keep the disease and parasites at bay. They also love daylight and need 16 hours per day to be able to lay eggs.

    Are chicken coops fox-proof?

    For a coop to be described as fox-proof, it needs to be strong enough for there to be no chance of a predator breaking through the wire. But foxes can still dig, so you should look for something which has a large skirt around the edge, or which can be partially sunk into the ground.

    We would always recommend ensuring you put the extra precautions in place anyway. After all, there is no such thing as too fox-proof!